Cholera Outbreak kills 5 in Ogun

ABEOKUTA — Five persons have reportedly lost their lives following an outbreak of Cholera in Abeokuta South and North local government areas of Ogun State.

The state government which confirmed the outbreak, however, claimed that only one person died as a result of poor hygiene on the part of the residents.

But, Vanguard findings revealed that, the incident was linked to a septic tank which spilled its content into major water sources in the area, thereby contaminating them.

Fear has however, gripped residents of Abeokuta who are reportedly apprehensive about drinking water from water pipes in their areas.

An unconfirmed report has it that the number of deaths from the outbreak may be more than what was reported.

The state government in a press statement issued yesterday, admitted that only one person had died.

The state Ministry of Health, while tracing the source of the disease to poor level of hygiene added that it had moved to stem the outbreak in two communities in the state

The State Commissioner for Health Dr. Olaokun Soyinka who confirmed the incident also named Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South council areas as being sources of the outbreak ”with poor sanitation, particularly faecal waste management.”

Soyinka said, “there was a sudden upsurge in cases of gastroenteritis in some communities in Abeokuta, first noted on Friday, July 5.